Hibiscus plant named ‘Denise Yumi’

ABSTRACT

A Hibiscus plant named ‘Denise Yumi’ having attractive medium textured petals with overlapped, ruffled petals and undulating petal margin. Flowers have a bright yellow body (near 9A-12A), white halo (near 155C) with a large dark magenta zone (near 57A-58A) which blends into dark red eye (near 45A-47A) and a flower life of about three or more days on the plant. The plant has cordate shaped leaves with acute apices and somewhat round smooth bases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis which was originated by crossing an unnamed, unpatentedseedling (internal reference number 072493C) as seed parent, and thevariety known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Sunny Delight’ (unpatented) aspollen parent. The varietal denomination of this new variety is Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Denise Yumi’.

To the best of my knowledge, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Denise Yumi’ hasnever been patented in the United States and there is no prior pendingUnited States Plant Patent Application or prior existing unpatented orunpatentable plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the novel characteristics possessed by the new variety whichdistinguish it from its parents and all other varieties of which I amaware are flowers of attractive coloration born on an upright andvigorous plant.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by grafting as performed inCulver City, Calif., shows that the foregoing and other distinguishingcharacteristics come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding propagation. Other known forms of asexualreproduction also may be used.

The following traits have been observed in the new variety ‘DeniseYumi’:

1. Cartwheel, overlapped single flower, ruffled, tufted, wavy edge.

2. Bright yellow body (near 9A-12A), white halo (near 155C), with alarge dark magenta zone (near 57A-58A) which blends into dark red eye(near 45A-47A).

3. Vigorous, upright, medium growth habit.

4. Very good bloomer during warmer weather may (63° F./81° F.) throughOctober (62° F./81° F.) in Southern California.

5. Leaf shape is somewhat cordate with acute apices and round smoothbases. Leaf margins are crenate.

6. Flower life is approximately three or more days on plant.

7. Endures temperatures of 30° F.

8. Propagation by cuttings.

This new variety ‘Denise Yumi’ bears a single flower on normal stems.The plant's flower tends to grow larger during the warmer months ofJuly-August (low about 65° F., high about 86° F.) and slightly smallerbetween the cooler months of April and November (low about 55° F., highabout 74° F.) in Culver City, Calif.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER VARIETIES

Compared to the new variety's seed parent, ‘Denise Yumi’, flower issmaller. ‘Denise Yumi’ has a flat cup-shaped flower, whereas, the seedparent's flower opens wider and petals are rolled and reflexed backward.The color of the seed parent is muddy white and not clear whereas‘Denise Yumi’ color is clear. Compared to ‘Sunny Delight’s, ‘DeniseYumi’ has a different flower color and is hardier.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Denise Yumi’

After 5+ years

Height: Between about 122 cm to 183 cm.

Width: Between about 92 10 122 cm.

Caliper dimensions: 30 cm from the bottom, the average caliper of thebranches are 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm. Largest caliper dimension of a branch is2.0 cm. The smallest (juvenile stems) caliper dimension is about 3.7 cm.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 072493C—unnamed, unpatented seed parent

After 5+ years

Height: About 132 cm.

Width: About 65 cm.

Caliper dimensions: 30 cm from the bottom, the average caliper of thebranches are 1.2 cm to 1.75 cm. Largest caliper dimension of a branch is2.1 cm. The smallest (juvenile stems) caliper dimension is about 4 cm.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Sunny Delight’—unnamed, unpatented pollen parent

After 5+ years

Height: About 90 cm.

Width: About 60 cm.

Caliper dimensions: 30 cm from the bottom, the average caliper of thebranches are 1.1 cm to 1.5 cm. Largest caliper dimension of a branch is1.8 cm. The smallest (juvenile stems) caliper dimension is about 3.8 cm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photographic drawings show the typical plant habit andflower and leaf characteristics of three-year-old plants of ‘DeniseYumi’, with colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrationsof this type.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of ‘Denise Yumi’;

FIG. 2 is a color photograph illustrating the characteristics of thereverse surfaces of the flower;

FIG. 3 is a black and white illustration showing the typical leaf shapeof ‘Denise Yumi’;

FIG. 4 shows the top surfaces of leaves both mature (on the left side)and immature (on the right side) of the new variety ‘Denise Yumi’;

FIG. 4A shows the under surfaces of leaves both mature (on the leftside) and immature (on the right side) of the new variety;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the new cultivar ‘Denise Yumi’ (top), theseed parent identified (lower left), and pollen parent, ‘Sunny Delight’(lower right).

FIG. 6 shows a seed pod of the new variety approximately 15 days afterpollination;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the shape of the seed pod of the new varietyapproximately 15 days after pollination;

FIG. 8 shows a mature seed pod of the new variety about 30 days afterpollination; and

FIG. 9 shows a mature seed of the new variety about 30 days afterpollination.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety, fromspecimens grown outdoors in Culver City, Calif., in the month of April.The color terminology used is in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.), and refers to plate numbers in theaforementioned color chart. Phenotypic expresion may vary depending onlight, environmental and cultural conditions.

Classification:

Botanical.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cv. ‘Denise Yumi’.

Commercial.—Garden variety.

Inflorescence:

Flower (general).—Size: Medium, 15-18 cm in diameter. Borne: In axils ofleaves, 1 per node. Form: Cartwheel, overlapped single, and ruffled,tufted and undulated petal margin. Life: 3 days or more on plant.Fragrance: None. Blooming habit: Blooms during warmer months(May-October) in Southern California. Corolla: Smooth, slightly shiny;with upper surfaces slightly shiny; the under surface is also slightlyshiny; edge of the petals is slightly wavy. Shape: Round, ruffled tuftedand undulate margin.

Bud ( 1 day prior to opening).—Size: About 7½ to 9 cm. Shape:Cylindrical. Color: Near 7A interspersed with veins of white shading tonear 154C.

Calyx.—Cup-shaped, 5-pointed lobes, a single prominent midvein per lobe,membranous. Length: About 2.5 cm. Color: Near 143C to 144C.

Epicalyx.—6-pointed, narrow, sword-shaped bracts. Length: About 1 cm.Color: Near 141B to 141C.

Peduncle.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Smooth. Color:Near 141B-141C.

Petal size.—Between about 7.5 to 9 cm in length by about 7.5 to 9 cm inwidth.

Texture.—Substance of the petal is medium to moderately medium inthickness. The upper surface is smooth and slightly shiny; the undersurface is also slightly shiny; the edge of the petal is slightly wavy.

Color.—Upper surface has a bright Yellow body between 9A and 12A, with awhite halo, near 155C, with a large dark magenta zone, between 57A and58A, which blends into a dark red eye, between 45A and 47A.

Reproductive structures.—Androecium (stamens) Anthers: About 72. Color:Near 157D. Filaments Length: About 5 mm. Color: Near 157D. Pollen:Abundant. Color: Near 14A-15A. Staminal column Length: About 4 cm.Gynoecium (pistil) Stigma: 5 in number, rounded, discoid, hairy. Color:Near 23A. Diameter: About 2 mm. Style Length: About 7 cm. Color: Lower ⅓red near 45B to 47B and upper ⅔ near 157C. Ovary: Rounded. Color: Near150C. Calyx: Cup-shaped, 5-pointed lobes, a single prominent mid-veinper lobe, membranous. Length: About 2.5 cm. Color: Near 143C to 144C.Epicalyx: 6-pointed, narrow, sword-shaped bracts. Length: About 1 cm.Color: Near 141B to 141C. Fruit/Seed pod Shape: Elongated, rounded andtapered at the bottom. There are 5 major crevices on top of the seed podwhich become 5 individual chambers in which the seeds are developed. Theouter part of the seed pod is surrounded by the calyx and epicalyx.Color: In its early stage (about 15 days after pollination) colorbetween 137B and 137C; when pod is mature (about 30 days afterpollination) color is between 165A and 165C after which the seed podwill crack open revealing all 5 chambers with seeds in each chamber.Size: About 2.5 cm long and about 1.2 cm in diameter. Seed: Color ofseeds are black, near 200A; seed has a hard shell and is fuzzy with manyhairs. Color of the hairs are near 161B. In profile, the seed appearsmuch like the side view of a human head tapered at the bottom. Size ofthe seed is about 6 mm in length by about 3 mm in width. Fertility AsFemale: One (tried once). As Male: Three (tried once).

Plant characteristics:

Arrangement.—Alternate.

Mature leaf.—Foliage: About 12 to 13.5 cm in length by about 12 to 12.5cm in width. Shape: Cordate, acute apices and round smooth bases,moderately crenate margins. Texture: Medium leather-like with hairs andfive main veins. Color: Top surface between 137A and 146A; under surfacebetween 138A and 146B.

Juvenile leaf.—Foliage: About 4.2 cm in length by about 3.5 cm in width.Shape: Almost cordate, acute apices, crenate margins. Texture: Softerleather-like with fine tomentose. Color: Top surface between 146A and146B; under surface between 147C and 147D.

Petiole.—Length about 3 to 3.5 cm; aspect smooth; upper side moderatelygrooved with few hairs on the groove; under side smooth with few hairs.Color: Mature leaf: Near 143A. Juvenile leaf: Top surface is between 14Cand 147D with slight 59B; under surface between 147C and 147D. Stipules:About 1 cm in length with a very narrow width (needle shaped); mediumlength straight points that sometime turn out at an angle of 45° andrecurve toward the stem, 2 per node. Color: Near 138B.

Stems.—Aspect smooth, becoming woody with age. Color Major stem: Near201A to 201D. Branches: Near 200C. New shoot: Near 138B and 141C withvertical stripe of near 176A to 177A.

Plant habit.—Medium growth habit (about 122 cm to 183 cm in height andabout 92 cm to 122 cm in width); displays very vigorous, upright growthwith a thick caliper branch size; Green Light® Super Bloom® Fertilizer(12-55-6 with 0.10% Chelated Iron) ever 2 weeks from march to October.It is observed that fertilizer makes a great difference in coloration ofthe leaf because nitrogen makes the leaf a darker green color.

Bracts.—Located below the sepals.

Breaking action.—Good.

Rooting.—About 8 weeks with GRO QUICK electric soil heating cable,built-in thermostat automatically activates cable when soil temperatureis below 74° F., by Wrap-On Co., Inc., 5550 West 70Place, Chicago, IL60638, with bottom heater.

Disease resistance.—No known Hibiscus diseases, such as flower budabscission, observed to date on plants grown outdoors in Culver City,Calif.

Hardiness.—‘Denise Yumi’ endured 30° F. temperature in Culver City,Calif.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct plant of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis of thevariety substantially as described.